THE INTELLIGENT INITIATIVE OF DECIPHERINGPRAKTIESE TEOLOGIE AS HERMENEUTIESKRITIESE TEOLOGIE

Practical theology is often regarded as the stepchild of the theological disciplines. It is seen as a kind of "applied" theology where the views unlocked and "deciphered" by other disciplines are "applied" to the practical situation. In this article it is argued that practical theology is essentially a hermeneutical theology as it is engaged in the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith in relation, and in critical correlation to the (theory-laden) praxis. It is shown that all hermeneutical theology has to become more practical, but should remain essentially hermeneutical. It is finally argued that all theology should be seen as part of a fundamental practical theology . ... to interpret is to bring out coherence. It is in modern hermeneutics that are bound together the symbol's giving of meaning and the intelligent initiative of deciphering. Hermeneutics makes us share in the battle, the dynamics, by which symbolism is subject to being itself surpassed (Ricoeur 1978:45)